Other MMA Organizations News - Page 92

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Hard-hitting UFC and Strikeforce veteran Terry Martin (22-9) will step in on short notice for an injured Jeremy Hamilton (8-0) and face middleweight prospect Tim Ruberg at this month's Superior Cage Combat 4 event in Las Vegas.
MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) today confirmed the change, and an official announcement is expected shortly.
Featuring a main event between UFC veterans Kendall Grove (13-9) and Jay Silva (7-5), "SCC 4: Grove vs. Silva" takes place Feb. 16 at Orleans Arena in Las Vegas.
Broadcast plans for the event are expected to be announced shortly.

With the door back to the UFC still not open to him, former Middleweight title contender Patrick Côté (16-7) is headed south for his next bout. He’ll face Gustavo ‘Ximu’ Machado (22-8-1) March 31 on the Amazon Forest Combat (AFC) 2 main card in Manaus, Brazil. The match-up, first reported by Tatame, was subsequently confirmed to Top MMA News by Côté.
Best known for having his right knee give out against Anderson Silva in 2008, the soon to be 32 year-old Côté has been unwavering in his resolve for a third shot in the UFC. Since being cut for the second time in late 2010, the Predator has won three straight.

WEC veteran Casey Olson will return to the cage after nearly two years on the shelf, dropping to bantamweight to take on Cody Gibson in the main event of Tachi Palace Fights 12.
Tachi Palace Entertainment Coordinator Jeremy Luchau notified Sherdog.com of the development on Friday. TPF 12 takes place March 9 at the Tachi Palace Hotel and Casino in Lemoore, Calif. “Second Coming” will also feature a featherweight title defense from Georgi Karakhanyan, as “Insane” squares off with Micah Miller.

Deerfield Beach, FL - Authentic Sports Management today announced that its own former UFC middleweight and Sengoku Champion "The Sandman" Jorge Santiago will take on former Bellator competitor and fellow Brazilian Leonardo Pecanha as the main event of Titan Fighting Championship's March 2 card in Kansas City, Kansas.
"Titan Fighting 21" will take place inside Memorial Hall and HDNet will deliver the entire main card live starting at 9:00 p.m. ET.
"I can't wait to fight for Titan on March 2nd and to show everybody that "The Sandman" is back and more dangerous than ever before," said Santiago. "I train with the best coaches and some of the best fighters in the world, I've never felt better or more ready, and at Titan Fighting 21 I'm going to make a fight nobody will forget - especially Leonardo Pecanha."

The Maximum Fighting Championship recently announced that lightweights Antonio McKee and Brian Cobb were released by the Canadian promotion for missing weight prior to their MFC 32 title bout.
McKee officially tipped the scales seven pounds over the contracted 155-pound limit. As a result, his planned lightweight title defense was downgraded to a non-title catchweight affair, and he was stripped of the belt by the organization prior to the contest.
“I was thoroughly disgusted by the lack of professionalism that Antonio McKee showed towards the belt he was scheduled to defend as well as the Maximum Fighting Championship as an organization,” said MFC President Mark Pavelich in an official statement released Tuesday.
McKee earned a unanimous decision victory over Cobb at the Jan. 27 event, which aired live on HDNet from the Mayfield Inn Trade and Convention Centre in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
“It was unacceptable behavior for a champion to demonstrate. On top of that, Antonio never really apologized for missing weight that badly. That was the end of things for him with the MFC,” Pavelich continued. “That’s why he was stripped of his belt immediately and told that he would never fight in the MFC again. I hope it’s a message to all the other fighters in the MFC.”
McKee, however, sees the situation differently. According to the former champion, both Pavelich and Cobb knew McKee would miss weight due to illness. McKee says he and his camp made the conscious decision to “not push the envelope” and try to make weight, as the fighter was experiencing severe lightheadedness and stomach pains.
“[Pavelich] knew I wasn’t going to make weight before the fight because I told him I wasn’t going to make weight. I was sick. I had f---ing kidney issues. My stomach was messed up. They already knew that,” McKee told Sherdog.com on Wednesday.
................................
In my opinion this calls into question the whole practice of cutting weight.
I have no sympathy for guys who miss weight due to "health issues." If you can't consistently make a weight cut in good health, you need to be fighting at a higher weight class.
I think they should institute a policy of multiple weigh ins to prevent this sort of drastic cutting. It isn't good for fighters. What happened to safety first?

XFC veteran Julio Gallegos returns to the cage on Feb. 10th live on HDNet when he takes on Amaechi Oselukwue at the Knoxville Civic Coliseum at XFC 16: ‘High Stakes.' The heavy handed middleweight is a fan favorite not just for his fighting ability but his charity work as well.
Overcoming tragedy at an early age, that saw the loss of both of Gallegos' parents, the Kentucky native has turned the negative into a positive by focusing his energy on helping sick children. Gallegos works tirelessly promoting cancer awareness and spends his time visiting sick children at St. Jude and Kosair Children's Hospital in Kentucky. Last year Gallegos even started his own charity, the GJG Foundation, which benefits kids in Lexington, KY. Last year the fighter raised several thousand dollars that went into helping children in his hometown.

The Maximum Fighting Championship announced the release of three fighters on Tuesday, including former lightweight champion Antonio McKee, who was officially cut after missing weight by seven pounds for his title defence last Friday in Edmonton.
Also let go by the Edmonton-based organization was his opponent Brian Cobb, who lost to McKee in what ended up being a three-round, non-title catchweight bout in the co-main event of MFC 32: Bitter Rivals, as well as James Haddad, who were the other fighters to miss weight but by smaller margins.
McKee was set to defend his belt before coming in well over the 155-pound target at the weigh-ins last Thursday. He was immediately stripped of his belt and MFC owner/president Mark Pavelich said after his "farewell fight" the following day he would never fight in the MFC again, "even if he wins by flying armbar or knockout."
"And I’m not like Dana White," added Pavelich, referring to the UFC president as having given second chances to fighters he’s said would never fight for him again. "When I say 'never,' I mean never. My never is forever."
"I was thoroughly disgusted by the lack of professionalism that Antonio McKee showed towards the belt he was scheduled to defend as well as the (MFC as an organization)," Pavelich said."It was unacceptable behaviour for a champion to demonstrate. On top of that, Antonio never really apologized for missing weight that badly. That was the end of things for him with the MFC."
___________________________________________
Also bidding farewell to the MFC on Friday was the ring itself -- the promotion will be switching to a cage on a full-time basis.
The circular cage -- ironically nicknamed "The Ring" -- that will be in use for all future events was first employed at MFC 29 last April for their first show in Ontario, whose province’s athletic commission requires all MMA fights to take place in the cage.
The MFC, which continued to use the ring for its shows in Edmonton as it had for all of its existence, did so for the last time on Friday. Pavelich, who has always maintained that the ring is better especially for the live spectators because it’s better for viewing the action, says their permanent move to the fenced enclosure is a good sign for fans, especially those in Ontario.
"People should be excited in Ontario, because if I’m switching after 12 years of being the biggest advocator on the planet to be inside a ring ... it’s your province that doesn’t allow us to fight in a ring, so that must mean I’m making plans to come back to Ontario if I’m ready to abandon the best apparatus possible to fight on."
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NOTES:
Fights in the MFC are now also being scored with the much-talked-about half-point system that was put into place by Edmonton’s athletic commission, where judges can award scores with half-points. Pavelich said he’s not opposed to it, but is not sure it will make a big difference. ...
Pavelich said the commission was looking at other new ideas, such as letting fans and fighters know how judges scored a round after each one is completed. He said he was in favour of that change.

Following yesterday's monumental announcement of a 10-year media partnership with ESPN Star Sports, ONE FC unveiled several more interesting news items on a press conference in Singapore.
On the business side of things, the promotion made a huge announcement that government entities from Singapore will be backing them, with Cui saying that both the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) and Singapore’s Economic Development Board (EDB) will be supporting ONE FC.
ONE FC has also announced two key bouts for their third show that is slated on March 31st. Headlining the card will be UFC vet and former Strikeforce champion, Renato 'Babalu' Sobral (36-10), taking on the very dangerous and explosive striker in Melvin Manhoef (24-9).
Also on a featured bout is Kevin Belingon (9-0), a URCC Champion who is one of the top prospects in the Asia, taking a huge step up in competition by facing the more experienced DEEP Bantamweight Champ, and 'Master of Leglocks', Masakazu Imanari (24-10-2).
ONE Fighting Championship 3
March 31, 2012 - Singapore Indoor Stadium, Singapore
- Renato Sobral vs. Melvin Manhoef
- Masakazu Imanari vs. Kevin Belingon
- Eduard Folayang
- Zorobabel Moreira
- Gregor Gracie
- Eddie Ng
- Nicole Chua

Antonio McKee has been stripped of the Maximum Fighting Championship lightweight title after coming in seven pounds overweight at Thursday’s MFC 32weigh-ins.
McKee will still face Brian Cobb in the co-main event, but it will now be a three-round non-title affair. Sherdog.com confirmed the news with an MFC official on Thursday, who also verified that McKee will be released by the promotion following his bout with Cobb.

Almost a year ago to the day, Mike "Joker" Guymon suffered a submission loss to DaMarques Johnson at UFC Fight Night 23 and announced his retirement from the sport.
Guymon, now 37, said well-documented mental problems manifested themselves into physical issues.
But now, in better mental health and with his competitive fire stoked, he's returning to MMA in both a new weight class and a new promotion.
...
"It was awkward," he told MMAjunkie.com Radio (www.mmajunkie.com/radio). "You'd always have something to look ahead to like fighting here or doing this or getting ready for this guy. And then all of the sudden, you realize you don't have to do any of that stuff, and there's no more pressure on you.
"It feels wonderful, but it also feels like you're missing something. Personally, I'm a competitor, and I've always been a competitor. Not having that, it definitely felt awkward."
So what changed for the fan favorite? It's complicated, of course. In fact, his situation is doubly complicated when considering his well-documented suicide attempt in 2009. With stress at home, stress with his business, and stress with his fighting career, Guymon planned to check out permanently. However, his wife and a family friend ultimately talked him out of it after a standoff with police, and Guymon underwent a psychiatric evaluation and continued to get the help he needed.
...
"I feel like the last couple of fights, I cheated everywhere," he said. "I cheated the UFC, I cheated fans, and I cheated my friends because I was going in their not being able to shift it into the next gear. I couldn't get that fire, couldn't get that drive.
"I regret a lot of stuff about those last two fights. I could've asked for time, and they would've given it to me, but I just wanted to get in there and fight. I've never been one to turn down any type of fight. But I just feel like I shortchanged them."
...
"We figured out a way to wean me off the medication," he said. "I will be right back where I was with that competitive fire and that don't-quit attitude. I feel good like this, and it just feels right.
"I had been trying to figure out the mental stuff in the medication, and that's a big reason I decided to take time off. But now I'm back."
...
"It's another thing to fire me up to really buckle down," he said. "At the end of fighting [in the UFC], I was cutting corners on the diet, cutting corners on the training and on the cardio, the biking and running. Actually I cut out running for a long time. But now making that decision to cut down to lightweight, I can't cut any corners.
"I have to eat perfect. I have to train correctly. I have to add in all that cardio I used to do. ... The main thing I need to focus on just keeping my head on square. I think I'm going to give a lot of people a lot of trouble it that weight."
Guymon, who's now walking around at 172 pounds, said he'll get as light to 163 to 165 pounds before he'll simply need to cut water weight on the week of the fight. He's refocused, re-energized, rejuvenated. He's happy and motivated and healthy.

MMA@Work's own, Jay Jeans, recently had a chance to chat with BAMMA Lightweight Champion, Rob Sinclair.
Rob "C4" Sinclair resides and fights out of Manchester, England. He currently holds a record of 11-2-0, with recent victories over Diego Vital and Martin Begley.
Click the link below to find out more about one of Europe's best kept secrets.

ProElite held another successful event in the beautiful state of Hawaii as Kendall “Da Spyder” Grove (14-9) dominated all three rounds in his main event tilt with Japanese MMA legend Ikuhisa “Minowaman” Minowa (51-33-8). With effective stand up and picture perfect back control, Grove took the score 30-27 on all three judges’ score cards.
“I put my own pressure on myself. Minowa has very dangerous leg locks and I know if I gave him the opportunity, he would have broken my leg.” Grove said about going the distance in his bout.
In the co main event of the evening, Sara McMann (5-0) continued her dominance in the 135-pound women’s weight class with her unanimous decision over Hitomi Akano (18-9). McMann used her extensive wrestling pedigree to complete some cage shaking slams throughout the bout...

John Alessio vs. Ryan Healy confirmed for lightweight match-up
Tickets on sale January 24th
Press Release – TORONTO, January 18th, 2012 – Score Media Inc. (TSX: SCR) today announces that The Score Fighting Series (SFS) will be returning to Hamilton, Ontario for another night of incredible MMA action on Friday, March 16th at the Hamilton Place Theatre. A marquee match-up between John Alessio (33-14) and “Diamond” Ryan Healy (19-9-1) has been confirmed for the card.
Score Fighting Series veterans Rich Clementi, Josh Hill, Alex Ricci, Shane Campbell and Lyndon Whitlock are all slated to be in action. Opponents for all of them are awaiting approval by the Ontario Athletic Commission and will be announced shortly.

Translation from a polish article:
"TelewizjaOlsztyn.pl presented a video in which the issue is discussed for Mamed opponent. According to this material a new rival in the May gala Mamed NSS to be Hector Lombard who has an impressive record of 32-2-1. Lombard last battle fought on November 19, 2011 ceremony at which 58 Bellator defeated by TKO (strikes) Trevor Prangleya. If nothing changes and comes to this fight is a fight we will have the highest level. For Mamed but it will be the toughest opponent of what he fought so far."
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I try my best to be a decent European Correspondent, but theres 23 languages in Europe so I can't promise all of them to be in English!

Kendall Grove said he was a wimpy, overweight high-schooler when Ikuhisa Minowa was bounding around the ring in tight pants.
But he's grown up now, and in more ways than one. He's raising his own future high-schooler now, and he's trying in earnest to rebuild his career.
"I was trying to run a gym out here in Hawaii on top of managing a professional career in MMA, but that's just me being a [expletive] and making excuses," Grove told MMAjunkie.com Radio (www.mmajunkie.com/radio). "But now I don't have those excuses, and the sky's the limit, I guess."
Grove shut down his gym in Maui and trains out of his garage with a gaggle of students and coaches. He is almost completely self-sufficient, and a lot happier now without the distractions of running in two different directions.

Veteran fighters Gilbert Yvel and Houston Alexander will square off in the light heavyweight division. Both fighters fought in the Ultimate Fighting Championship promotion and boast of careers with wins over some of the sport's top fighters.
“The main event is a huge fight between two bad dudes,” said promoter Wayne Harriman of Las Vegas. “Fight fans are in for a great one when those guys step into the cage.”

Nate Marquardt's run in BAMMA has come to an end before it ever really started.
According to Marquardt's manager Lex McMahon, the UK-based BAMMA has agreed to release Marquardt from his contract following the organization's decision to delay their ninth event from Feb. 11 to March 24. Marquardt was scheduled to fight Yoshiyuki Yoshida in the main event of BAMMA 9 for the organization's welterweight title.
This marks the second time BAMMA has delayed Marquardt's promotional debut, as he was originally scheduled to fight for BAMMA in December.

Fight Hub TV fight correspondent Dustin De La Torre went out in about in Los Angeles and caught up with former UFC lightweight Gabe Ruediger. Fight fans last saw Ruediger at UFC 126 against Paul Taylor in which he was ultimately put away via KO. For the past year, Ruediger has been laying low and healing from well documented back problems which he was battling before and during his UFC stint.
This Friday, Ruediger looks to get in the win column going up against Brandon Anderson at BAMMA USA in Commence on Friday night.